The pETBlue™-2 vector is designed to identify recombinants by traditional blue/white screening while also allowing T7lac promoter based expression of target genes. Screening is independent of expression because the T7lac expression promoter is in an opposed orientation relative to the E. coli promoter that mediates blue/white screening. pETBlue-2 defines the open reading frame and inserts must be cloned in-frame if expression is desired. The vector features an expanded multiple cloning site (MCS) and optional C-terminal HSV•Tag® and His•Tag® sequences. The sequence is numbered from the first base of the T7 promoter sequence.